‘NCIS’: Tony and Ziva Mentioning the L Word

One of TV’s long-flirting couples is having long-term feelings of love.

“I do think that there is an intense thing that they have for each other that there is definitely love there,” Cote de Pablo, who plays Ziva David on CBS’ hit drama ‘NCIS,’ says of her relationship with Special Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly). “However, once in a while, it gets ambiguous for both. I think they go into a lot of, ‘Is this the person I’m in love with?’ Or, ‘Oh God, he is my [work] brother!’ That line gets completely crossed over and over, and I think people really like it.”

Known to fans as the Brangelina-like moniker “Tiva,” the are-they-or-aren’t-they couple raised eyebrows on a recent episode of ‘NCIS’ when they appeared to shack up in Paris.

“Oh my God, it seems to be the ongoing question – I’m sticking to an answer: it was good,” de Pablo told Fancast at Monday’s PaleyFest 2010 event for ‘NCIS’ in L.A., of the Paris tryst. “That’s it, that’s all I’m going to say. It was good.”

Tony and Ziva are a possible romantic item on the show that has grown increasingly focused on the personal relationships of its characters, including a new love interest for Jimmy Palmer (played by Brian Dietzen). Another rumor is that Gibbs (Mark Harmon) may have a romantic relationship brewing with Hart (Rena Sofer). But Harmon seemed to dash those rumors Monday at PaleyFest, saying “I guarantee you Rena’s character isn’t going where you think it’s going,” and adding in other reports that his character isn’t the one for a romantic storyline.

“There’s something to say about [Tony and Ziva], and that they have been confronted with something real that has lasted,” de Pablo says. “I think at the end of the day, they have each others’ backs. They love and respect each other, a love beyond anything. Whatever happens, that working relationship will be always open.”

Weatherly, also at Monday’s Paley Center event, teased of the relationship, “I believe that when you put two powerful characters in close proximity to each other, like for example Tony DiNozzo and Ziva, could something happen, certainly. Did something happen? I believe that Tony this year might have been drinking more than normal.”

The wise-cracking Weatherly adds, “Clearly, [Ziva] has the best resistance. DiNozzo has the willpower of a second-grader.”